In a significant development, the last French troops in Niger have successfully withdrawn, marking the conclusion of over a decade of French operations aimed at combating armed groups in West Africa's Sahel region. The disengagement process was officially announced on Friday by Niger army Lieutenant Salim Ibrahim, who stated that today's date symbolizes the final stage of the withdrawal of French forces from the Sahel.

The decision to pull out approximately 1,500 French soldiers and pilots came after Niger's military government demanded their departure following a coup on July 26. This marks the third instance in less than 18 months that French troops have been compelled to leave a country in the Sahel region. Similar situations occurred in fellow former colonies Mali last year and Burkina Faso earlier this year due to military takeovers in those countries.

All three nations, including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, have been confronting rebel violence that originated in northern Mali in 2012 and subsequently spread to the neighboring countries. However, it is the series of recent coups in the region since 2020 that led to strained relations with France, resulting in a rise in anti-French sentiments among the local population. This shift in sentiment has prompted these nations to reorient their alliances towards greater cooperation with Russia, pushing France out of the picture.

With France's exit from Niger, a notable presence of military personnel from the United States, as well as Italian and German soldiers, remains in the country. Nonetheless, the Nigerien military leaders recently announced the termination of two European Union security and defense missions in the nation.

France's withdrawal from Mali left a sour aftertaste as the bases it once occupied in Menaka, Gossi, and Timbuktu were swiftly taken over by Russia's Wagner paramilitary group. This development raised concerns among regional observers about the growing influence of external actors in the Sahel.

French President Emmanuel Macron had previously declared the withdrawal of all French troops from Niger by the end of this year, with the first contingent leaving in October. The majority of French soldiers were based at the air base in Niamey, while smaller groups were deployed alongside Nigerien troops at the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, where armed groups affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaeda are known to operate.

The withdrawal process posed several challenges, as convoys had to navigate up to 1,700 kilometers (1,000 miles) through perilous desert routes to reach the French center for Sahel operations in Chad, a neighboring country. The first convoy of troops withdrawing from Niger recently arrived in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, after a grueling 10-day journey.

From Chad, French troops have the option to depart by air, particularly with their most sensitive equipment, while the rest of the equipment must be transported by land and sea. According to an anonymous source cited by Agence France-Presse news agency, some French containers carrying equipment are set to be driven from Chad to the port of Douala in Cameroon before being shipped back to France.

Meanwhile, in Niger, the former President Mohamed Bazoum, who was overthrown in the coup, remains under house arrest. In terms of other foreign involvement, the United States confirmed in October that it maintained around 1,000 military personnel in Niger but was no longer actively engaged in training or assisting Niger forces. They have stated that they are willing to resume cooperation with Niger once the military government commits to a swift transition to civilian rule.

Niger's current rulers have expressed their desire for a transition period of up to three years before returning to a civilian government, which will be subject to ongoing negotiations and discussions.

As French troops complete their withdrawal from Niger, the region is now witnessing a significant shift in the dynamics of foreign military presence and influence. The departure of French forces may have long-term implications for the security and stability of the Sahel region, prompting a reevaluation of regional alliances and strategies in countering armed groups and insurgencies.